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“Charming—just what every girl wants to hear from her husband.”
“You look as though you’ve lost weight.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if I have. I can hardly keep anything down. Even the smell of food turns my stomach. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to cook.”
“Me and Gabriel will survive. We lived on takeout before you moved in, and we still have all the menus in the kitchen drawer. Although Gabriel is missing your spaghetti meatballs—he says it’s even better than the stuff from his favorite takeout place.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back to cooking once this nausea passes.”
“No, I don’t want you rushing anything. Your health and the baby’s health are my priority right now. Gabriel will get used to eating the takeout again. Anyhow, once the baby arrives, you’re not going to have as much spare time, so he’ll just have to learn to get used to fewer home-cooked meals.”
“I should still be able to cook once the baby’s here.”
“Let’s just get through this pregnancy first. I’m not happy about the weight you’re losing. It can’t be good for the baby. I think we should make another appointment to see the doctor.” We’d already had an initial appointment to confirm the pregnancy and our next checkup was for the twelve-week scan.
“All women feel like this, Rafael,” I said in an attempt to ease his concern.
“I know, but I’m worried about whether the baby’s getting enough nutrients. Maybe the doctor will advise you to take some extra vitamins or something.”
“Okay, I’ll make an appointment after breakfast, although I don’t think I’ll be able to manage anything except hot water with lemon.” To be honest, I was feeling pretty rough. And if it set Rafael’s mind at rest, I was happy to do whatever he wanted.
CHAPTER 25
RAFAEL
I had a meeting with Jacob and a group of our Captains at Matrix. One of Jacob’s guys managed the place, and Jacob held a lot of his meetings at the club due to its proximity to the Bonardi mansion. It was a couple of hours before the place opened, so we had the club to ourselves.
I didn’t usually come here, so I hadn’t seen much of Bella since she had started her new job. I didn’t think she wanted much to do with us, given the hostile looks she had bestowed upon me every time I had seen her so far.
I sat down at a table in the empty club with Jacob across from me. He signaled to Bella to bring us over drinks.
I nodded at Bella as I caught her eye. “How is she doing?” I asked Jacob.
“She’s as prickly as hell.”
I raised an eyebrow at him in question.
He sighed. ‘She’s a hard worker and the customers like her. She saves her bad attitude for anyone wearing the Società tattoo.’
‘Sounds about right,’ I muttered, as she came over and put a glass of whiskey down in front of me none-too-gently. Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of some of the Captains and I swiftly changed the subject.
Once everyone had arrived, we got down to business, namely the issue of recent Bratva attacks on our drug runs. As we talked through options and retaliation plans, Jacob signaled for more drinks to be brought over. We were debating whether to attack an imminent Bratva drug shipment we had received intel about.
Savino Gamberini, a Captain, sat to my left. He was keen to seize the shipment as payback. Some of the other Captains, however, were concerned about hostilities increasing when perhaps we should be trying to get things to simmer down. The less attention we drew to our illegal activities, the better it was for us in terms of avoiding unwanted attention from the DEA and FBI.
Bella came over with a tray of drinks and went around the table, picking up the used glasses and replacing them with new drinks. As she stood by Savino and served him his drink, he grabbed her ass, making her jump and flush bright red before throwing his drink in his face.
Savino smirked at her as he wiped the liquid which was dripping from his face onto the table. “It’s a shame to waste good whiskey like that. I’ll have to get you to lick it up, or maybe you can make it up to me by licking my dick instead.”
“Shut your fucking mouth,” I growled. “You better not speak to her like that ever again.”
“Why not? She works for us, making her as much as one of our whores as the sluts who work in our whorehouses.”
I jerked to my feet, my chair crashing to the ground behind me. “She’s my sister, you fucker,” I spat out.
The silence in the room was deafening, but all I could hear was heated blood rushing through my veins.
“Your sister?” said Savino in disbelief.
